Middle Level Communication Arts/Literature (Grades 5–8)
Subtest 2 Sample Items
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Question 1
1. Critical listening would be the most appropriate type of listening for receiving
which of the following spoken messages?
- "All of my friends used to talk about quitting their jobs and sailing around the
world, but she really did quit her job and sail around the world."
- "Before removing the battery from the computer, make sure that all programs have
stopped running, turn the power off, and unplug the computer."
- "The neighbors were playing their music so loudly that when I called them to ask
them to turn it down, they didn't even hear the phone ring."
- "By investing as little as $5,000 cash in this exciting new business opportunity,
you can easily double or even triple your money in just a few months."
Answer to question 1
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0007) Critical listening is used to distinguish fact from opinion, determine the accuracy of a message, and assess the reliability of a speaker. When a speaker's message is an attempt to influence a listener's decision or change the listener's behavior, the listener should apply critical-thinking skills to evaluate the message. Here, the message that encourages someone to make a $5,000 investment and promises quick and big returns on the investment should be considered carefully.
Question 2
2. Given the conversation below, which of the following responses by Casey would indicate most clearly that active listening has occurred?
Rosa: Did I tell you I saw a great movie recently?
Casey: No. What was it about?
Rosa: Well, the story is about a man who moves to a remote coastal island where he gets a job as a reporter at a small newspaper. But that's not what the movie is really about.
Casey: [fill in the blank]
- "That sounds like an interesting story. What is the movie really about?"
- "My father grew up on an island. He has a lot of stories about island life."
- "Is it a comedy or a drama? It sounds more like a drama."
- "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I haven't seen a good movie in a while."
Answer to question 2
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0007) One strategy for listening actively is to reflect and build on a speaker's message. In this conversation, Casey would best demonstrate active listening by expressing a thought or an opinion resulting from a brief reflection on what Rosa said ("That sounds like an interesting story.") and then inviting Rosa to continue with or elaborate on her main point ("What is the movie really about?").
Question 3
3. Read the excerpt below from a speech delivered by President Ronald Reagan during a visit to Berlin, Germany, in 1987.
Behind me stands a wall that encircles the free sectors of this city, part of a vast system of barriers that divides the entire continent of Europe. From the Baltic, south, those barriers cut across Germany in a gash of barbed wire, concrete, dog runs, and guard towers. Farther south, there may be no visible, no obvious wall. But there remain armed guards and checkpoints all the same—still a restriction on the right to travel, still an instrument to impose upon ordinary men and women the will of a totalitarian state. Yet it is here in Berlin where the wall emerges most clearly; here, cutting across your city, where the news photo and the television screen have imprinted this brutal division of a continent upon the mind of the world. Standing before the Brandenburg Gate, every man is a German, separated from his fellow men. Every man is a Berliner, forced to look upon a scar.
Which of the following assumptions underlies Reagan's argument in the excerpt?
- Oppressed peoples inevitably overthrow their oppressor.
- Democracy will overcome totalitarianism around the world.
- Freedom is generally recognized as a universal human right.
- The news media have too much influence on popular opinion.
Answer to question 3
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0007) In the excerpt, Reagan describes the Berlin Wall as the physical manifestation of "the will of a totalitarian state," describing the wall's effect as "brutal division of a continent" At the conclusion of the excerpt, Reagan states that "[s]tanding before the Brandenburg Gate, every man is a German, separated from his fellow men." The assumption underlying Reagan's words is that "ordinary men and women" should not have to live in a city or continent divided by "barbed wire, concrete, dog runs, and guard towers." The assumption is that freedom is a universal human right—the freedom to travel between one side of a city and another, between one side of a continent and another. The wall is described as a "gash," and a "scar," meaning that it has injured Berlin and Europe. But gashes can be healed, and scars can fade. The assumption is that nations are in good health when they are democratic, whereas totalitarianism inflicts great harm.
Question 4
4. Read the excerpt below from a speech delivered by Sojourner Truth at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851; then answer the question that follows.
I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal. I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now. As for intellect, all I can say is, if woman have a pint, and man a quart—why can't she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much,—for we can't take more than our pint'll hold. The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don't know what to do. Why children, if you have woman's rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won't be so much trouble.
In the speech, Truth presents sufficient evidence to support the claim that women are:
- capable of selfless sacrifices.
- physically stronger than men.
- emotionally invested in politics.
- prepared to exercise their rights.
Answer to question 4
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0007) In the excerpt, Truth first demonstrates her equality to men by professing her physical strength ("I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that?"). She adds that she "can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if [she] can get it." Next, Truth turns to the topic of intellect, acknowledging a then-prevailing belief that women did not possess as much intellect as men (i.e., a woman's "pint" of intellect compared to a man's "quart"). She quickly asks, however, " ... why can't [a woman] have her little pint [of intellect] full?" With this question, she is asking that women be allowed to use their intellect to its full capacity. Truth's statements about physical strength and intellectual acumen illuminate aspects of women's equality and implore listeners not to be threatened by but to be uplifted by equal rights and to recognize that women are ready to exercise their equal rights.
Question 5
5. In which of the following situations would it be most appropriate for the speaker to use informal language?
- A doctor is speaking to a group of medical students about the symptoms and treatment of a rare disorder.
- A mayor of a small city is speaking to city residents about working together to
keep the city's parks clean and safe.
- An astrophysicist is speaking to a small group of colleagues about the changing
physical properties of some planets.
- A real estate agent is speaking to a group of prospective homebuyers about the terms of adjustable interest rate loans.
Answer to question 5
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0008) Informal language tends to have an inclusive effect—most people understand it and are therefore more likely to be able to receive or relate to the message it conveys. Therefore, informal language would be most appropriate for the mayor of a small city to use for motivating residents to keep city parks safe and clean and to encourage a cooperative spirit among the residents.
Question 6
6. In which of the following excerpts does the speaker engage audience members' interest
by establishing common ground with them?
- "Have you ever found yourself in a difficult situation with no clear way out? I
know that I have. And I know how hopeless it can feel. But I also know that every
problem has a solution."
- "Realizing your dreams has a lot to do with maintaining a positive attitude and
developing a work ethic. Success can't be achieved if one of these elements is missing."
- "It is especially important that you know the limits of your knowledge. It is especially
important that you strive to learn more. It is especially important that you be
open to new ideas."
- "My story, like most, has included several turning points, several pivotal moments
when I made important self-discoveries and acted on them. The first came when I
was in third grade."
Answer to question 6
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) Beginning with a rhetorical question about a familiar human experience ("Have you ever found yourself in a difficult situation with no clear way out?") allows the speaker to establish common ground with the audience immediately. The speaker then builds on this relationship with the audience by empathizing with them, confessing to knowing "how hopeless it can feel" to have this experience.
Question 7
7. Which of the following strategies would likely be most effective for managing the
anxiety often associated with giving a speech?
- before the speech, taking a series of short, shallow breaths
- during the speech, imagining that the audience is asleep
- before the speech, visualizing a calm, confident delivery
- during the speech, speaking at a fast pace and with an even tone
Answer to question 7
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0008) Research shows that visualizing a positive attitude toward and response to the audience on the day of the speech is a highly effective technique for building confidence and reducing speech anxiety.
Question 8
8. Which of the following nonverbal cues by a speaker would likely be most effective
in increasing clarity and maintaining audience members' interest during a speech?
- periodically emphasizing key points with hand gestures
- looking at the floor and pausing when transitioning from one point or concept to
another
- frequently clicking a pen and pointing it at the audience
- maintaining consistent eye contact with one or two persons in the center of the
audience
Answer to question 8
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) Hand gestures are often important in helping "punctuate" ideas in a speech and clarifying meaning. They may serve to grab the attention of audience members and emphasize or illustrate key points the speaker wishes to make.
Question 9
9. When preparing to lead an idea-rich discussion that challenges students' critical-thinking abilities, a teacher should take which of the following actions first?
- devising a turn-taking protocol that will promote active participation
- assigning recording and reporting tasks to specific group members
- working with students to set ground rules for a civil, collegial discussion
- brainstorming topic-related discussion questions that will generate inquiry
Answer to question 9
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0009) A teacher who is planning to lead a discussion is responsible for providing structure and guidance that will encourage and support students' ability to contribute to their own learning. Such goals are best addressed when a discussion leader develops challenging discussion questions that encourage inquiry and promote student engagement in deep learning.
Question 10
10. Which of the following strategies would be most effective for students to use to focus their contributions during an academic discussion?
- engaging in positive self-talk prior to the discussion
- using other group members' comments and questions as starting points
- consulting prepared notes during the discussion
- addressing other group members by their names during the discussion
Answer to question 10
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0009) Linking discussion contributions to comments and questions made by others is an effective way to focus new contributions and keep a discussion on topic. There are several ways to accomplish this objective. A group member can agree or disagree with another member's previous comment and explain his or her reasoning, ask another group member to clarify or elaborate on a point, and/or offer an example that illuminates another group member's point.
Question 11
11. Members of a group meet to discuss and find a solution to a problem. Early in the meeting, a conflict arises when some group members accuse others of contributing to the problem. Which of the following strategies would be most effective for the group leader to use to manage the conflict?
- reminding the group of their shared purpose and common goal
- asking several group members to investigate the accusations
- suggesting that the group table the discussion until a later date
- proposing several solutions to the problem and calling for a vote
Answer to question 11
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0009) When serious conflict arises during a group discussion, it may be beneficial for the group leader or facilitator to pause the discussion to remind the group of their shared purpose and common goal. When group members make accusations against other group members, they disrupt the discussion process that will lead to achievement of the group's common goal.
Question 12
12. During the course of a long-term project, a group leader addresses conflicts between group members as soon as they arise. This approach will likely contribute to the project's overall success primarily by:
- guiding group members toward compromise and consensus.
- preventing temporary acrimony from creating permanent obstacles.
- reminding group members to respect one another's opinions.
- converting negative situations into opportunities for personal growth.
Answer to question 12
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0009) Conflict is inevitable when people work with one another. Steps in the process of conflict resolution include, but are not limited to, acknowledging the conflict, discussing its impact, agreeing to communicate, clarifying positions, addressing assumptions, and reaching agreement. These steps, addressed in a timely manner, help prevent acrimony from building up and compounding, and can contribute effectively to successful group performance.
Question 13
13. Which of the following sentences contains an error in capitalization?
- Thurgood Marshall was a Supreme Court justice for 24 years.
- Pam was excited to visit the University of Arizona during the winter.
- Mr. Lopez said, "Your Grandmother was an accomplished painter."
- For years, the Davidson family visited the Midwest in August.
Answer to question 13
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0010) One rule
of capitalization is to capitalize words showing a family relationship when preceding
a person's name (e.g., "Aunt Pam") but not when preceded by a possessive pronoun
(e.g., "his aunt"). Here, the word Grandmother is preceded by the possessive pronoun
your and therefore should not be capitalized.
Question 14
14. Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?
- You like to do things the hard way, naturally.
- On the contrary, I feel refreshed.
- You will I think, be very successful.
- To tell the truth, I never even noticed it.
Answer to question 14
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0010) Commas are
used for various purposes, such as to set off parenthetical elements in sentences.
When the parenthetical element appears in the middle of a sentence, it should be
set off by two commas—one just before and one just after the element. Here, the
parenthetical element "I think" should be preceded as well as followed by a comma.
Question 15
15. Which of the following sentences contains an error in usage?
- Did you accept the invitation to the party?
- The sign indicated that all trespassers will be persecuted.
- The painting provided an optical illusion.
- Will this animal be able to adapt to its new environment?
Answer to question 15
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) The words persecute and
prosecute are commonly confused. Here, the word persecute (to harass, punish, or
annoy someone) is used incorrectly. The word prosecute (to bring legal action against
someone for unlawful behavior) should be used.
Question 16
16. During the writing process, freewriting would likely be an effective technique to use to:
- determine which sources to cite in an essay.
- discover ideas about possible topics for an essay.
- draft the introductory paragraph of an essay.
- outline key points that will be made in an essay.
Answer to question 16
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) Freewriting is a method of generating ideas by writing about a topic without stopping for a certain amount of time (e.g., 15 minutes) or to a certain length (e.g., two pages). Freewriting is generally used early in the writing process and is especially useful for giving a writer access to ideas of which he or she may have been unaware or for breaking a writer out of a "block."
Question 17
17. Read the draft paragraph below; then answer the question that follows.
1Ceviche is a popular seafood dish in Central and South America that is prepared in a unique way. 2In a typical ceviche, small chunks of fresh fish are marinated in the juice of a citrus fruit—usually a lemon or lime. 3Citric acid in the juice "cooks" the fish by breaking down its proteins, rendering the flesh opaque and firm, as if it had been cooked with heat. 4_____ blank , the acid does not kill bacteria and parasites as well as heat does, so it is important to use fresh, clean fish when making ceviche.
Which of the following words would be most appropriate to use in the blank in Sentence 4?
- Consequently
- Moreover
- Interestingly
- However
Answer to question 17
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0010) In the paragraph, Sentence 3 explains that citric acid "cooks" the fish. The quotation marks around "cooks" and the phrase "as if it had been" suggest that the juice does not actually cook the fish. Sentence 4 explains that, in fact, "the acid does not kill bacteria and parasites as well as heat does, so it is important to use fresh, clean fish when making ceviche." So, the relationship between the two sentences is one of subtle contrast. "However" is a transition that signals contrast and would therefore be the most appropriate word to use in the blank.
Question 18
18. Read the draft paragraph below; then answer the question that follows.
1Cape Cod, the hooked-arm peninsula of Massachusetts that juts into the Atlantic Ocean, has its own Atlantis. 2Until it was submerged by tide and current in the early twentieth century, Billingsgate Island was a 60-acre island in Cape Cod Bay. 3Billingsgate was a fishing and whaling town that reached its height of prosperity in the early nineteenth century, when 30 houses, a school, and a lighthouse populated the small island. 4The houses were moved to the mainland before the island succumbed to the sea, but the lighthouse stayed until it was destroyed by a storm in 1915. 5Stones from its foundation can still be seen every 12 hours at very low tide, when Billingsgate emerges from its watery grave. 6Because of the drastic tides of Cape Cod Bay, boating near Billingsgate can be dangerous
Which of the following sentences should be removed to eliminate a distracting detail?
- Sentence 3
- Sentence 4
- Sentence 5
- Sentence 6
Answer to question 18
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0010) The first five sentences follow one another logically while maintaining a focus on the subject of Billingsgate Island. Sentence 6, however, departs from the subject by introducing a detail about the dangers of boating in Cape Cod Bay. Sentence 6, therefore, is a distracting detail that should be removed from the paragraph.
Question 19
19. A student is drafting an essay about the benefits of commuting to work by bicycle. Which of the following paragraphs would be most effective for the student to use to conclude the article?
- Finally, consider your mental health. Studies indicate that regular low-impact physical
activity, such as cycling to work, significantly reduces stress levels. People who
cycle to work are generally less stressed and more alert than people who drive to
work.
- Despite all these scientific reasons for cycling to work, the best reason for doing
it lies in the experience itself. Try it. It's just plain fun. Five years ago I
started cycling to work, and I'm happy to report that the "trial" continues—indefinitely,
I hope!
- For all the positives of cycling to work, there are some negatives. Perhaps the
biggest downside is the potential for serious injury in the event of a collision
with an automobile. But safety should improve as motorists learn to share roadways.
- Another major advantage of cycling to work is that bicycles don't run on gas. Cyclists
can save thousands of dollars a year in gas. It's not just about saving money, though.
It's also about reducing our dependence on overseas oil.
Answer to question 19
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0011) One effective way to conclude an essay is to offer a personal anecdote or commentary. In the paragraph that begins, "Despite all these scientific reasons for cycling to work," the student provides an effective conclusion by referring to the "scientific reasons for cycling to work" and then sharing a significant personal reason for the activity: "It's just plain fun."
Question 20
20. A student is developing a thesis statement for an argumentative essay about the benefits of requiring the study of a musical instrument in the school curriculum. As part of the essay, the student must respond to claims that learning an instrument takes too much time. Which of the following statements would best acknowledge and respond to this claim?
- Learning to play a musical instrument will instill in students an appreciation for many modes of music and other types of artistic expression.
- While evidence that classical music can improve cognition is inconclusive, the study of music leads to the formation of more well-rounded learners.
- By integrating music education into the curriculum, the school will endorse the arts in particular and the merits of disciplined practice in general.
- Given how many hours of a typical student's day are consumed with social networking, surely one or two could be spared for playing an instrument.
Answer to question 20
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0011) Training and rehearsing a musical instrument may require time; however, learning to manage one's time is a key part of a student's learning. In this manner, mandating the study of musical instruments helps teach accountability and discipline, in addition to arts appreciation.
Question 21
21. A student is developing an essay in favor of implementing a silent sustained reading program (SSR). Which of the following brief summaries would provide the most logical organization for the student's argument?
- The practice of silent sustained reading is more common in elementary schools, though there are definitely high school teachers who have made an attempt to put silent sustained reading sessions in place. Reading should happen every day. Teachers assign reading for homework instead of classwork.
- Silent sustained reading has its detractors, and there hasn't always been evidence to back up its efficacy as a literacy-building practice. Many of my classmates, at one time or another, enjoy reading in some form or another. Silent sustained reading is really just a fancy name for taking some quiet time to read.
- It's an undeniable fact: students today don't read enough. Oh sure, they read. They read things on their phones, and they read things online. But do they open books? Not that much. Picture the school library. Do you see anyone reading there? Of course not. The library is where people go to use computers.
- It's Friday afternoon and you happen to walk into an English class. How surprised would you be to see a room full of students who were quietly reading? The answer is probably very. Reading is not as popular as it once was, because it has been squeezed out of the curriculum. A silent sustained reading program would change that.
Answer to question 21
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) The paragraph that begins "It's Friday afternoon and you happen to walk into an English class" provides a clear context in which to situate an argument about silent sustained reading (SSR) programs. The first statement establishes this context that the second and third sentences elaborate on. In the fourth sentence, the writer makes a claim, which segues into an argument that "A silent sustained reading program would change" students' attitudes toward reading.
Read the draft paragraph below; then answer the two questions that follow.
The most unavoidable factor that led to the collapse of the ancient Egyptian civilization was the change in the regional climate. For example, a sudden shift to colder and drier conditions put a strain on crops. Furthermore, with the drier conditions resulting from a lack of rainfall, water levels in the Nile were depleted for nearly a century.
Question 22
22. Which of the following statements would provide the most relevant evidence in support of the writer's claim?
- The ancient Egyptians' agricultural system depended upon the Nile for water.
- Although the Egyptians tried to adapt to the new conditions, they could not prevent crop shortages from occurring.
- Nearly every crop failed, and there was too little water for every community.
- Hundreds of thousands of people succumbed to starvation as a result of limited water and widespread failure of crops.
Answer to question 22
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) The statement "Hundreds of thousands of people succumbed to starvation as a result of limited water and widespread failure of crops" provides the most relevant, detailed (numerical), and authoritative evidence of the breadth of devastation that led to the collapse of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Question 23
23. Which of the following sentences, if incorporated into the paragraph, would most effectively address a counterclaim?
- When the Nile experienced periods of flooding over a few decades, the force of the flooding destroyed crops and further prolonged shortages of food and water.
- The Nile's unpredictable behavior made it nearly impossible for nearby communities to use the river for travel and trade.
- Military invasions by nearby civilizations added to the strain on Egypt's resources, which had been depleted by a recent civil war.
- Despite the division of the Egyptian state into two rival kingdoms, the people enjoyed enough food for several decades before the shift in the regional climate.
Answer to question 23
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0011) By definition, a counterclaim offsets a claim. The author's original claim refers to the effects of a dry climate and the resulting depletion of water in the Nile. A counterclaim would present conditions opposite to those in the original claim. The statement "When the Nile experienced periods of flooding over a few decades, the force of the flooding destroyed crops and further prolonged shortages of food and water" meets this criterion.
Question 24
24. Which of the following introductory sentences would most effectively engage readers' interest in an informative essay on the human brain?
- The average adult human brain is five to six inches wide, six to seven inches long, and three to four inches high.
- In one day, a single human brain generates more electrical impulses than do all the telephones in the world.
- In the human brain, the right side keeps track of body position and the position of objects around the body.
- The human brain can function for four to six minutes without oxygen, after which brain cells begin to die.
Answer to question 24
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0012) Stating a startling fact that makes a personal connection to readers is an effective way to engage readers' interest in the topic of an informative essay. In this case, readers learn that their brains generate more electrical impulses in one day than do all the telephones in the world. This attention-grabbing introduction would engage readers' interest in learning more about the topic.
Question 25
25. A student is developing an informative essay about lobsters. Which of the following paragraphs would provide the clearest indication of the essay's focus?
- Lobsters are smarter than we think. Contrary to popular belief, lobsters can and
do escape from baited lobster traps. In fact, evidence suggests that lobsters treat
these "traps" as 24-hour, all-you-can-eat buffets that they can come to and leave
as they please.
- Though most people think of Maine when they think of lobster, the Homarus americanus
can be found as far south as the coastal waters of North Carolina. Crawfish, which
look like miniature lobsters, are found in freshwater.
- Because their shells are hard, lobsters grow by molting, whereby they shed their
old shells for new, larger ones. Lobsters are bottom feeders that eat decaying matter
that falls to the ocean floor. Their predators include codfish and seals.
- Atlantic lobsters are often depicted as having bright red shells, but when they
are alive, their shells are a mottled mix of orange, brown, and green colors. There
are even blue lobsters, whose coloring is the result of a genetic defect.
Answer to question 25
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0012) The paragraph that begins, "Lobsters are smarter than we think" provides a sufficiently broad topic for the essay. The first sentence makes a general statement or claim, and the second and third sentences indicate that evidence is available to support that claim. The other paragraphs provide specific details only and offer no direction in which the essay might proceed.
Question 26
26. Read the draft paragraph below; then answer the question that follows.
1The discovery in 1939 of an Anglo-Saxon burial mound at a site called Sutton Hoo in England helped shed light on a murky period of English history. 2The find was particularly exciting for scholars because a description of a burial ship in Beowulf, the famous early medieval poem, closely matches what was uncovered at Sutton Hoo. 3_____ blank . 4The ship's size, the location of the burial mound, and a hoard of buried treasure indicate that a seventh-century king was most likely buried with the ship. 5His followers would have been absolutely loyal to him, a relationship that hints at the feudalism that would later dominate European life during the Middle Ages.
Which of the following sentences, if inserted as Sentence 3, would best support a logical development of the central idea?
- The use of many kennings—compound words that metaphorically describe everyday things—in
Beowulf implies that abstract thought was prevalent in Anglo-Saxon culture.
- Beowulf tells the story of an Anglo-Saxon feud in which the story's protagonist,
Beowulf, sets out to kill three supernatural antagonists: the monster Grendel, Grendel's
mother, and a dragon.
- The similarity between the literary description of the ship and the real ship suggests
that other aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture depicted in Beowulf could very well be
accurate.
- While aspects of Beowulf may be historically accurate, the epic tells us less about
Anglo-Saxon life than Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales tell us about life during
the late Middle Ages.
Answer to question 26
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0012) The first sentence indicates that the central idea of the paragraph is that an archaeological find helped shed light on a period of Anglo-Saxon history. The second sentence introduces a connection between Beowulf and a burial ship at the archaeological find. The sentence that begins, "The similarity between the literary description of the ship and the real ship . . ." follows logically as the third sentence because it explains the importance of the connection between Beowulf and the ship—the connection suggests that other aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture depicted in Beowulf could be accurate—and it helps develop the central idea through the use of a relevant supporting detail.
Question 27
27. Which of the following versions of a sentence from an informative essay would be most effective for a writer to use to convey an idea clearly and concisely?
- For years upon years, monarch butterflies have embarked on noble quests from North America to the balmy, craggy lands of central Mexico.
- Monarch butterflies travel prodigious distances for aeons in order to evade the icebox-like winters of Canada and find warm refuge in Mexico.
- Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to their winter grounds in mountainous central Mexico.
- Great masses of monarch butterflies form a migratory horde that treks annually from inhospitable U.S. and Canadian lands to Mexico's oases.
Answer to question 27
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0012) The goal of an informative essay is to inform or educate an audience using facts. The sentence "Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to their winter grounds in mountainous central Mexico" most effectively adheres to this criterion. The facts contained in the statement are neither embellished nor editorialized.
Question 28
28. A student is developing an informative essay about the history of Earth Day. Which of the following sentences would be most appropriate for the student to use as a thesis statement in the essay?
- The U.S. antiwar movement and the hippie ideal of living in harmony with nature
gave momentum to the environmental movement after the first Earth Day in 1970.
- A former coordinator of Earth Day events now helps corporations increase profits
and protect the environment by recycling and reusing production materials
- Since the first Earth Day was observed on April 22, 1970, the environmental movement
has profoundly changed people's attitudes toward the planet's natural resources.
- After the first global observance of Earth Day in 1990, when 141 countries held
events to raise awareness of environmental issues, recycling increased around the
world.
Answer to question 28
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0012) By stating that the environmental movement has "changed people's attitudes toward the planet's natural resources" since the first Earth Day in 1970, the student presents a clear focus for writing. Given this thesis statement, the student could develop the essay by describing people's attitudes toward natural resources before the first Earth Day in 1970 and explaining how the environmental movement has changed these attitudes.
Question 29
29. Use the thesis statement below to answer the question that follows.
For thousands of years, songs have reflected and transmitted the Ojibwe culture at private and public occasions that mark each step along the road of life.
Which of the following details would provide the strongest support for the thesis statement?
- When Swift Flying Feather went to Washington, D.C., in 1899 to protest treaty violations
of Ojibwe timber rights, he also recorded Ojibwe songs at the home of ethnologist
Alice Fletcher.
- Communal singing is customary at Ojibwe baby-naming ceremonies and funerals, as
well as at the beginning of the wild rice harvest.
- One way that speakers of the Ojibwe language ensure their language endures is by
teaching Ojibwe songs to children who might not otherwise learn the language of
their ancestors.
- In the early twentieth century, Frances Densmore recorded almost 500 Ojibwe songs
on the White Earth, Leech Lake, and Red Lake reservations.
Answer to question 29
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0012) Effective support for the thesis statement would include information about how Ojibwe culture is reflected and transmitted through song at public and private occasions that mark different steps in life. Describing the Ojibwe custom of communal singing at public occasions such as baby-naming ceremonies, funerals, and the wild rice harvest provides the most effective support for the given thesis statement.
Question 30
30. A student would like to include in a research article a direct quotation from the author Stephen Jay Gould. Which of the following signal phrases would be most appropriate for the student to use to acknowledge the source of the quotation and convey Gould's confident attitude toward his subject?
- "Gould observes . . . "
- "As Gould suggests, . . . "
- "Gould maintains . . . "
- "As Gould notes, . . . "
Answer to question 30
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0013) The word maintain means to affirm accuracy, fairness, or reasonableness. It is commonly used to indicate that an affirmation is made with certainty. For this reason, using the word maintain to introduce a direct quotation from a source would effectively convey the source's confident attitude toward his subject.
Question 31
31. Use the information below to answer the question that follows.
A student has taken the preliminary notes below in preparation for developing a research report.
- prehistoric paintings and drawings discovered on walls of Chauvet Cave in southern France in 1994
- carbon dating shows paintings are approximately 30,000– to 32,000 years old (carbon dating: technique for establishing the approximate age of an archaeological specimen by measuring radiocarbon-14)
- Chauvet Cave paintings depict lions, cave bears, horses, mammoths, bison
- Chauvet Cave not open to general public, but some individuals receive permission to visit the cave from local government
- humidity and bacteria introduced into cave by people can damage paintings, so visitors must wear body suits
- elevated walkway prevents visitors from erasing tracks left by prehistoric cave bears and humans
- replica of Chauvet Cave and paintings to be built next to the real cave for visitors
Given the information in these notes, which of the following organizational approaches would be most appropriate for the student to use to develop the report?
- extended definition
- cause and effect
- chronological order
- problem and solution
Answer to question 31
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0013) The student's notes describe potential problems caused by visitors to the Chauvet Cave, such as damage to paintings from humidity and bacteria and destruction of prehistoric footprints. A significant portion of the notes provide information about solutions to those problems: limiting access to the cave, wearing body suits, using an elevated walkway, and building a replica of the cave. Given the focus of the notes, the student should use a problem-and-solution organizational approach to develop the report.
Question 32
32. A middle school student is preparing to write a research report that examines the rise of the United States as a worldwide leader in steel manufacturing by the early twentieth century. Which of the following questions would most effectively serve as the basis for the student's research?
- How has the United States steel industry stayed so far ahead of its European competitors in global steel production since the early twentieth century?
- How did the Carnegie Steel Company, founded in 1892, maintain efficient steel production in the face of several contentious labor strikes?
- What were the most significant factors that allowed the United States to rapidly increase its annual production of steel between 1880 and 1920?
- Was the increase in American steel production after 1880 due to the discovery of iron ore deposits in the Midwestern United States or technological innovation?
Answer to question 32
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0013) The student will likely access print and online informational text that features tables of content. Keeping the guiding question in mind when examining tables of content, the student will be able to scan entries and quickly identify those that name factors or causes for the stated rise in steel manufacturing leadership, thus ensuring that the student's research efforts and findings stay on topic.
Question 33
33. An eighth-grade student is using an electronic database to research information about the social behavior of dolphins. Which of the following search terms would best help the student locate relevant sources within the database?
- social behavior of dolphins
- dolphins AND social AND behavior
- social OR behavior OR dolphins
- dolphins social behavior
Answer to question 33
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0013) Using the Boolean search term dolphins AND social AND behavior will ensure that the search produces only sources that include all three words, though not necessarily in that order. As a result, the student will be able to locate sources that are relevant to the research topic.
Question 34
34. A middle school student is preparing the works cited page for a research report on women's contributions to the U.S. space program. Which of the following citations for a book about Mary Sherman Morgan most closely follows MLA style?
- Shetterly, Margot L. start italic Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race end italic . HarperCollins, 2016. pp. 150–230.
- Shetterly, Margot L. (2016) start italic Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race end italic , pp. 150–230. HarperCollins.
- Shetterly, Margot L. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, pp. 150–223. HarperCollins.
- Shetterly, Margot L. (2016). "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race." pp. 150–230. HarperCollins.
Answer to question 34
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0013) According to MLA guidelines for source citation, the following information about a book should be provided in this order: author, title, publisher, publication date, and page numbers used. The author's last name is followed by a comma and the author's first name. The book title should be italicized.
Question 35
35. A sixth-grade student is gathering information for a report on the origins and meanings of Minnesota place names. Which of the following sources would most likely provide accurate, reliable information for the student to include in the report?
- a Minnesota visitors' guide sold at popular tourist attractions
- a geographic encyclopedia published by the Minnesota Historical Society
- a blog dedicated to celebrating Minnesota's cultural heritage
- an article about Minnesota history in an open-content online encyclopedia
Answer to question 35
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0013) A geographic encyclopedia published by the Minnesota Historical Society would most likely provide accurate, reliable information about the origins and meanings of Minnesota place names. A historical society typically publishes well researched, academic work.
Question 36
36. A student is developing the paragraph below as part of a narrative essay about a hiking trip.
The trail continued long and straight, each side bordered by thick clumps of wildflowers. As we walked along, Sammy told me how she loves this stretch. She calls it the corridor of flowers. The path curved sharply, then straightened into another long stretch, along the sides of which were eight-foot-tall corn stalks. Tassels atop the stalks clicked in the light breeze. After the corridor of corn, the path twisted and turned several times before continuing into thick woods and low-lying vegetation. I felt like I was in a tropical jungle for this leg of the hike. After maybe half a mile in the jungle, we came to a small sandy clearing where we took off our shoes. The sun shined in our faces, so Sammy and I put on our sunglasses. We could then clearly see that we had reached our destination: the river beach.
Which of the following concluding details would most effectively strengthen the
description in the paragraph?
- The sand was smooth but hot underfoot, so we sprinted into the tea-colored, cool
water of the river.
- Having been surrounded by so much vegetation during the hike, we enjoyed being on
a beach.
- The river beach is a conservation area; people are allowed to visit it during daylight
hours.
- My polarized sunglasses significantly reduce glare, which allowed me to see the
river bottom.
Answer to question 36
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0014) The sentence that begins, "The sand was smooth but hot underfoot . . ." includes multiple sensory details, such as the "smooth but hot" sand and the "tea-colored, cool water," that most effectively strengthen the description in the paragraph.
Question 37
37. A student is developing a short story about a retired auto mechanic. Which of the following versions of a paragraph from the short story would most effectively introduce the main character?
- For years, his lunch had been anything that was easily managed while changing the oil on a car but that wouldn't damage the engine if accidentally dropped. Now that risky multitasking was no longer necessary, he cooked. In fact, he didn't just cook. He ruled the kitchen.
- He had been a car mechanic for thirty years before retiring. He still lived in the same house where he and his wife had raised their children. His house was not far from the garage. Someone had told him that the new owners had put in an espresso machine.
- A person needed to eat. Some people opened packages of potato chips or unwrapped candy bars or packets of dried fruit. They got in their cars and drove through fast food restaurants. They ate french fries and hamburgers. He preferred stew, or as the French called it, boeuf bourguignon.
- He took out the stock pot out of the cabinet and set it on the stovetop. Next, he took out a knife and a cutting board. He diced a large onion, two carrots, and two celery stalks. He heated oil in the pot until it shimmered. Then he dropped the vegetables into the pot.
Answer to question 37
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0014) In the paragraph that begins "For years, his lunch had been anything that was easily managed while changing the oil on a car but wouldn't damage the engine if accidentally dropped," a clear image of the main character emerges. The third and fifth sentences explicitly convey his previous attitude toward eating lunch ("risky multitasking") and his present pride in cooking ("He ruled the kitchen"). The paragraph clearly conveys how retirement freed the character from the constraints imposed by his work and inspired a passion for cooking.
Question 38
38. A student is developing a personal essay. Which of the following paragraphs most effectively uses descriptive details to convey an experience shared by the student and his grandmother?
- Like me, my grandmother had to work. She says she didn't mind, though she sometimes talks about her working years with a hint of resentment. "I had to work," she says. She clerked in department stores and was a switchboard operator for the phone company. Everywhere she worked, she wore a hat.
- My grandmother watches as I carefully retrieve the bulky but lightweight hat boxes from the closet. With great anticipation, I open the first box. We behold a marvelous feathered concoction surrounded by yellowed tissue paper. Lifting the hat from the box, I detect a faint scent of gardenias. We both inhale and sigh.
- My grandmother's hats aren't hip, but they aren't practical, either. People today may wear hats for protection from the rain or snow or sun, but the best hats are sartorial rather than practical. My grandmother and I believe that hats are the finishing touch on any outfit. Neither of us will leave the house without a hat.
- How many hats does one person wear in a lifetime? Many, if you are my grandmother. Hats are one way we express our many identities. My grandmother says her hats remind her of who she was at a certain moment in time. For me, looking at her hats is like looking at an old-fashioned photograph album.
Answer to question 38
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0014) The paragraph that begins "My grandmother watches" includes descriptive details such as "feathered concoction surrounded by yellowed tissue paper," and "faint scent of gardenias." These details convey the experience shared by the student and his grandmother.
Question 39
39. Read the draft paragraph below from a short story; then answer the question that follows.
1They walked into the sculpture garden. 2They could see the enormous cherry and spoon, but the garden was swarming with people taking pictures. 3That was no way to view the art, they decided, _______ blank they decided to go straight to the museum. 4They crossed the street and approached the vestibule with a blue glass facade. 5He held the door for a large family, which she liked. 6_______ blank , they both seemed to relax.
Which of the following phrases, if inserted in the blanks in Sentences 3 and 6, respectively, would most effectively signal a shift in place?
- since, As expected
- already, This way
- and so, Once inside
- surely, As if on cue
Answer to question 39
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0014) Inserting the phrase "and so" in the blank in Sentence 3 would suggest a change in plans, which, the completed sentence reveals, means entering the museum. More explicitly, inserting the phrase "Once inside" at the start of Sentence 6 directly locates the characters in the museum.
Question 40
40. A student is developing a personal essay about learning to make pasta with her father. Which of the following concluding paragraphs would be most effective for the student to use in the essay?
- Remember to prepare your work surface in advance. I have already mentioned this, but my dad would want me to emphasize the importance of a clear countertop. Remember: you do not need a lot of fancy equipment, or even many ingredients, to make pasta. You can do it any day of the week, with a little patience.
- My dad has taught me many other things, as well. Pasta-making, yes, but also how to ride a bike, how to draw an Airedale terrier, and how to make the best cookies and cream milkshake. (The secret is lots of real cookies.) All of these lessons are valuable. I will probably remember them my whole life. Parents are great resources.
- To summarize: My dad did not study to be a pasta-maker. He taught himself by reading cookbooks and practicing. I learned by working next to him. Some important pointers include making a well in the flour for the egg yolks and being liberal with added water. Remembering that homemade pasta cooks more quickly than dry pasta is also key.
- My dad and I live in different states now, but I know he's nearby when I make pasta. He watches as I gather ingredients and clean the countertop. He observes how I break the egg yolks into a heap of flour. He watches me knead the dough and reminds me that it can take a lot of kneading. He shows me that being able to nourish yourself is a gift.
Answer to question 40
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0014) The paragraph that begins "My dad and I live in different states now" opens with an overarching statement that suggests the passage of time while imparting a tone of fond nostalgia. The second, third, and fourth sentences include vivid details associated with lessons that the student has learned from making pasta with her father. Those details build toward the final sentence, which would close the essay with a more universal message.